NHS will struggle to cope this winter, new analysis finds

NHS will struggle to cope this winter, new analysis finds Just 3.6 per cent of patients took up over a third of all bed capacity in acute hospitals in England last year, new analysis by the Nuffield Trust of pressures on the NHS last winter has found.

See also:

• The A&E winter crisis: lessons from last year Nuffield Trust
• Warning of NHS winter beds 'struggle' BBC News
• Winter pressures: A detailed look at how the NHS coping BBC News
• Winter in the NHS: The lost beds problem BBC News

Guidance: Health matters: antimicrobial resistance

Guidance: Health matters: antimicrobial resistance This document provides information on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), sets out effective methods to avoid unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics and provides advice for healthcare professionals.

Download the infographics, references and a shorter version of this publication. Public Health England

Policy paper: NHS bursary reform

Policy paper: NHS bursary reform From 1 August 2017, new nursing, midwifery and allied health students will no longer receive NHS bursaries. Instead, they will have access to the same student loans system as other students. This guidance explains the reforms. Department of Health

NHS 'failed to investigate deaths'

NHS 'failed to investigate deaths' The NHS has failed to investigate the unexpected deaths of more than 1,000 people since 2011, according to a report obtained by BBC News.

See also:

• NHS trust investigated ‘too few’ deaths of mental health and learning disability patients Community Care
• NHS mental health trust 'is slammed by an official report for failing to investigate more than 1,000 patient deaths' The Daily Mail
• NHS 'failed to investigate 1000 deaths' The Daily Telegraph
• NHS trust 'failed to properly investigate deaths of more than 1,000 patients' The Guardian
• NHS trust 'failed to investigate 1,000 unexpected deaths', report finds The Independent

Half of GPs willing to resign NHS contracts

Half of GPs willing to resign NHS contracts Almost half of GPs support mass resignation from the NHS in protest at the current state of general practice, a Pulse survey has revealed.

The survey of 922 GPs found that 49% are willing to resign their NHS contracts to highlight issues such as chronic underfunding, relentless bureaucracy and the ‘misrepresentation’ of doctors.

However, 35% of respondents said they were against the measure, saying that mass resignation could enable the Government to divide the profession and privatise the NHS.

See also:

• Half of GPs are prepared to join mass resignation over the state of the NHS The Daily Mail

Revalidation on track to cover almost all doctors

Revalidation on track to cover almost all doctors Programme’s high uptake linked to improved rates of appraisal and high patient involvement. OnMedica

One in four new doctors 'have signs of depression', study shows - and their patients may be suffering because of it

One in four new doctors 'have signs of depression', study shows - and their patients may be suffering because of it Researchers say the gruelling years of training for a medical career may be partly to blame. The Independent

See also:

• Prevalence of Depression and Depressive Symptoms Among Resident PhysiciansA Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (abstract) JAMA

NHS bosses claim revelations don't justify cost of FOI investigations

NHS bosses claim revelations don't justify cost of FOI investigations The Health Service swallows more than £2 billion of taxpayers’ money every week and is one of the biggest employers in the world, with 1.3 million staff. But the bureaucrats in charge of NHS England claim answering Freedom of Information requests is putting too great a burden on them. The Daily Mail

The NHS is failing people with mental health and substance use problems

The NHS is failing people with mental health and substance use problems After 15 years of initiatives, staff still lack compassion and many of the national programmes have disappeared.

People who have mental health along with substance use problems (known as dual diagnosis) have multiple needs, and yet struggle to find services to help them.

Those with complex needs have often experienced a great deal of adversity in their lives, including childhood abuse and deprivation, loss of close family, and poverty. As an adult, having multiple needs brings consequences such as homelessness, unemployment and exploitation, and there is a high risk of poor physical health, suicide, self-harm and of perpetrating violence. Those with dual diagnosis are also unpopular, partly because of society’s entrenched attitudes to substance use problems, which are perceived as a lifestyle choice rather than a health condition deserving of care and treatment. Continue reading... The Guardian

Britain should lead way on genetically engineered babies, says Chief Scientific Adviser

Britain should lead way on genetically engineered babies, says Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Mark Walport, who advises the government on scientific matters, said it could be acceptable to genetically edit human embryos. The Daily Telegraph